Golf game target



March 2i, 1967 J. G. coLsoN GOLF GAME TARGET Filed DeC. 16, 1965 I INVENTOR Jo/m G. 60/50/7 ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 3,310,313 GOLF GAME TARGET John G. Colson, 3800 Boutwell Road, Lake Worth, Fla. 33460 Filed Dec. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 330,875 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-180) This invention relates to a golf game target, and has for an object to provide a scoring target played with conventional or standard golf balls and clubs, particularly putters.

A further object of this invention is to provide a golf game target which may be played indoors on a floor, rug or carpet, but which is equally usable outdoors on a lawn or other comparatively level surface.

A further object of this invention is to provide a golf game target wherein a goli` ball is to be driven or putted through any one of a plurality of parallel cylindrical ball passages, with various scoring values interchangeably assigned to the various passages, thereby developing skill on the part of the player in directing the ball to the passage with the better scoring value.

A further object of this invention is to provide a golf game target having a plurality of parallel side-by-side cylindrical passages and a curvilinear fence, complementary to the cylindrical ball passages, extending rearwardly of the endmost passages and then transversely rearwardly ybehind the ball passage exits providing a ball receiving yard, the curvilinear rear fence portion more readily stopping and retaining the ball in the yard.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a tapered ball guide extending forward of the entrance to the cylindrical ball passages to help deflect a ball into one of the adjacent ball passages, and also to provide outwardly and forwardly flaring fence Wings. Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a golf game target having interchangeably mounted score tabs for the individual passages whereby different scoring values may be assigned to the various passages.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consist in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a top plan view of the golf game target of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional View of the score tab receiving means, on line 4-4 of FIG. l.

FIG. 5 is a partly exploded, sectional view on line 5--5 of FIG. l, showing the tab mounting on the cylindrical ball passage tube.

FIG. 6 is a section view of the curvilinear fence and wings, on lines 6-6 of FIG. 1.

There is shown at 10 the ,golf game target of this invention. The target 10 includes a number of similar, individual cylindrical tubes or members i12 arranged in .axially parallel side-by-side relationship, the entrance ends 14 being in a common plane, and the exit ends 16 likewise being in a common plane. Extending forwardly of the plane of the entrance ends 14 between each two adjacent tubes 12 is a ball guide plate 18 tapered in the direction transversely of the target 10 and serving to deiiect a golf ball striking it toward one or the other of the adjacent tubes 12. The outer surfaces of the guide plates 18 are curved complementary to the sides of the tubes 12, as shown at 20. The diameter of each tube 12 is larger than the diameter of a standard or conventional golf ball, but is not as large as twice the diameter of the ball, and the length of each tube 12 is somewhat longer than the diameter of the ball.

The tubes 12 and plates 18 are made 0f suitable metal or plastic, and are suitably secured together in such sideby-side arrangement by any conventional means. Fastened on the center of the top of each tube i12 is a grooved member 22 for removably receiving and securing the tongue or tab 24-of a score plate 26 having suitable scoring indicia 2S thereon the indicia 28 on some of the score plates being different from that on other of the score plates. The score plates being thus removably mounted, they may be interchanged from time to time so as to present a greater challenge in play and develop greater aiming skill in the player.

A cradle Ior fence, generally shown at 30, curvilinear or half moon shape in vertical cross-section as shown in FIG. 6, completes the target 10. This shape is complementary to the outer side of each of the endmost tubes 12, as shown in FIG. 3, and these side fence portions 32 are suitably secured to the endmost tubes 12 by any suitable means, here shown as by a bolt and nut 34, the fence being of the same metal or plastic las the previously described parts.

Extending transversely behind the exit ends 16 of the tubes 12 and connected to the fence side portions 32 is a fence rear portion 36, the fence rear portion being spaced behind the tube exit ends 16 a distance greater than the diameter of a ball, thus providing an enclosed ball receiving yard 38 for the golf balls that have passed through any one of the tubes 12 in play. The vertically curved shape of the fence rear portion 36 prevents a ball from readily jumping the fence, and instead deflects it forwardly back into the yard 38.

Flaring forwardly and outwardly of the endmost tubes 12 are fence wing portions 40 to catch any balls missing the tubes 12 and guide such balls somewhat toward the tubes 12. The overall length 0f the target 12 between the fence side portions 32 is preferably approximately twenty inches, and the fence wing portions 40, flaring outwardly at an angle of approximately thirty degrees from the plane of the tube entrances 14, are approximately nine inches in length. Thus, the target 10 is of a size that it may be readily used indoors, as on a carpet -of floor surface, or outdoors as on a lawn or other smooth and level surface.

In operation, the target d0 is set -up in an appropriate area and golf balls are driven or putted by a golf club in the hands of a player. A competitive game may be played, with the players striving to achieve the highest numeral score as the ball passes through one or another of the tubes 12, by observing the indicia 28 on top of the t-ube 12 through which the ball passes. To increase the aiming difficulty, the score plates 26 may be interchanged from time to time. The target 10 may also be used by a single player to practice and develop golf putting skill by attempting to putt a golf ball through various selected tubes 10.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A golf game target comprising a plurality of similar axially parallel cylindrical ball passage tubes arranged in side-by-side relationship, a tapered ball guide plate extending forwardly of and intermediate the entrance ends of each pair of adjacent ball passage tubes, and a curvilinear fence, curved complementary to and secured to the endmost of said cylindrical passage tubes, said curvilinear fence extending rearwardly of the rear exists of said ball passage tubes and then transversely thereof providing a ball receiving yard, and fence wings flaring outwardly and forwardly of the plane of the entrance ends of said passage tubes.

2. The golf game target of claim 1, and individual score plates interchangeably mounted on each cylindrical ball passage tube.

3. The golf game target of claim 1, said cylindrical ball passage tubes .having a diameter greater than and less lthan-twicev that of a standardgolf Iball, and the length ofysaid -passage tubesI and Ithe depth of said ball receiving yard therey behind being greater than the diameter of'a standardgolf ball.

4. The golf game target of claim 1, each said cylinthe top thereof, and an upstanding score plate having a rearwardly extending tab detachably niounteddn each said tab receiving groove.

References Cited by the Examiner UNTTED STATES PATENTS 1,712,561 5/1929 Jaspert 273-127 X 1,893,402 1/1933 Ehrlich 273-177 X FOREIGNv PATENTS 5,909 1912 Great Britain. 591,271 8/1947 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

G. J. MARLO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A GOLF GAME TARGET COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SIMILAR AXIALLY PARALLEL CYLINDRICAL BALL PASSAGE TUBES ARRANGED IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATIONSHIP, A TAPERED BALL GUIDE PLATE EXTENDING FORWARDLY OF AND INTERMEDIATE THE ENTRANCE ENDS OF EACH PAIR OF ADJACENT BALL PASSAGE TUBES, AND A CURVILINEAR FENCE, CURVED COMPLEMENTARY TO AND SECURED TO THE ENDMOST OF SAID CYLINDRICAL PASSAGE TUBES, SAID CURVILINEAR FENCE EXTENDING REARWARDLY OF THE REAR EXISTS OF SAID BALL PASSAGE TUBES AND THEN TRANSVERSELY THEREOF PROVIDING A BALL RECEIVING YARD, AND FENCE WINGS FLARING OUTWARDLY AND FORWARDLY OF THE PLANE OF THE ENTRANCE ENDS OF SAID PASSAGE TUBES. 